deport



(No Model.)

l J.A.DBPOR.T. HYDRAULIC BRAKE APPARATUS FOR ORDNANCEf By his florneys.mghm 4sneets-.Snen 2. J.A.DEP0RT. 1 'EYDR'AULI YBRAKE APPARATUS FORORDNANCE. N53; 555,360?.

No Model.)

Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

WTNISSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' (No Model.)

J.A.DEP0RT. HYDRAULIC BRAKE APPARATUS FOR ORDNANOE. No. 565,607. l

, Patented Aug. 11, 1896. FIGJ- nvm/vrom Q W/TNESSES i'NO Model.) 4Sheet'S-Sh'et 4.

J. A. DEPORT.

HYDRAULG BRAKE APPARATUS FOR ORDNANGB. A No. 565,607. Patented Aug. 11,1896.

FIC-5 9- llNirnn STATES FArRNr @einen JOSEPH ALBERT DEPORT, on PARIS,FRANCE.

HYoRAuLlo-BRAKE APPARATUS FORORDNANCR.

`SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,607, dated August11, 1896. Application filed May 3l, 1895. Serial No. 551,240. KNOmodel.) Patented iu England April 19, 1895,1l'o. '7,874-

Vw'o @Il wher?, t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH ALBERT YDn- PORT, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, residing in Paris, France, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hydraulic- Brake Apparatus for Utilizing the EnergyDeveloped by the Recoil of Ordnance, (being the subject-matter ofLettersPatent in Great Britain, No. 7,874,'dated April 19, 1895,) ofwhich the following is a specification. y

My invention relatesv to improvements in the hydraulic brakes applied toordnance for checking the recoil, the object of my invention being toutilize a portion of the energy of the recoil, not merely for obtainingthe automatic return of the gun to battery, but also for employing thisenergy for the aiming or charging of the gun, While at the same timeassuring an effective operation during the re coil and during the returnof the gun to battery. For this purpose I so arrange the hydraulic,brake that during a considerable part of the recoil the liquidcompressed by the piston passes Wholly or partially into accumulators,Where it is made either to compress springs or air, passing for thispurpose through one or more check-valves, which retain thefluid-pressure forced in, soas to store it up for subsequent'use. At theend of the said portion of the recoil the liquid forced by the brake nolonger passes through the said valves into the accumulator, and thebrake then acts as an ordinary hydrauli1 brake for limiting the recoilto the prescribed extent of travel.

The liquid under pressure in the accumulators may serve for running thegun into po- A sition again when this is not effected by grav?.

ity, and -it may also be utilized in various hydraulic apparatus servingfoi-pointing the gunor for loading or vmaneuvering the same, after whichthe liquid is made to pass back to the brake apparatus through a conduitprovided with a check-valve arranged to close during lthe recoil.

A chamber or reservoir for receiving the overflow from the accumulatorsand the spent liquid from the said subsidiary hydraulic apparatus isgenerally interposed in the` channel between the said apparatusv and thehydraulic brake, from which chamber the liquidis then supplied to thebrake.

In some cases I so arrange the brake as t'o` cause it to compress airduring the recoil,

which is then used either for running the gun l into position or forexpelling the explosion' gases remaining in the gun after firing, or forAany other purposes.

- tubular and re eives a xed stem, modified according to my invention.Figa 3 illustrates I a further feature of myf invention, beingaconstruction based upon Fig. 2, with the additional provision of meansfor utilizing the stored hydraulic power for effecting the running outof'the gun to'battery. Fig.v 4 shows in elevation the brake-cylinder ofFig. 3 and shows is section the breech portion ofthe gun c and the rearportion of. the hollow piston-rod,

illustrating a further feature of my invention' wl ereby compressed airis injected into the gun after iii-ing for expelling gases ofcombustion. Fig. 5' is a section'on a larger scale of the compressed-airYadmission shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional View showing amodification of the brake-cylinder illustrated in Fig. Fig. 7 is asectional elevation illustrating an apparatus embodying all the featuresof my invention, the hydraulic-'brake apparatus being in sect-ion on theline 7 7 in Fig. 9. Fig. 8 is a plan, half in horizontal section,I onthe line 8l-8 in Fig. fl. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9 Din Fig. S.

In all the figures the parts are in the position assumed immediatelyafter the commencement of the recoil.

Referring, first, to Fig. l, A is the piston, which is attached tothecannon. -B is the hydraulic cylinder, and Gis the by-pass channel inthis cylinder, having a progressivelydecreasing section. Sometimes thepiston is provided with an orifice closed by a checkvalve D, which opensduring the return to battery.\

sion of springs or by compressed air, (the latter being shown in Fig.y8,) and which store the liquid driven out by the piston while the lat.

ter is traveling from its first position to the .branching off of theconduit E. From these accumulatore lead ducts which extend to theapparatus of utilization, such as presses or hydraulic cylinders,4(indicated 'at IL) and which are employed in the aiming or the reloadingof the cannon. The liquid flowing from these apparatus runs into anoverflowtank, cistern, or other'reservoir I, which also receives, ifnecessary, the excess of liquid from the accumulator-s which flows -overthrough a small tube K. This reservoir I communicates with the brake bya conduit L, provided with a valve M, arranged to close during therecoil, and to open during the movement to battery.

This brakeoperates as follows: While the,

piston is moving back from its initial position of rest to the branchingolf of the conduit E the valves D and M are closed. The brake forces.into the` accumulators past the valve F the liquid which is displacedby the piston, except a small quantity which leaks past the pistonthrough the channel C. From the moment that therpiston passes the valve'F' to the `end of its travel the valve F is outsideA of the action ofthe liquid compressed by the piston, and it is' closed by the pressurefrom the accumulators. During the second part of the travel of thepiston the brake becomes in effect an ordinary brake, the channelprogressively decreasing and coming to an end before the piston reachesthe end of the cylinder, so that the piston cushions upon the liquidretained in the end of the cylinder, s o as to finally arrest the recoilof the cannon. During the return movement to battery the valve M opensand the reservoir I permits liquid tofloW out into the body of thecylinder for replacing' that which was previously forced into the aecumulator. Toward theend of this movement the piston A encounters theliquid which had leaked around it: during the recoil and com-presses it,whereupon this liquid passes through the channel C,- as Wellas by theorice closed byy the valve I),'if rthis orifice is provided, so thatthis liquid serves the purpose of moderating the speed of the return ofthe gun to battery. The prrpose of the reservoir I is to afford a supplyor assuring the refilling ofthe brakecylinder,j notwithstanding thevariable consumption of the apparatus of utilization llence thereservoir may be interposed or simply branched on the conduit returningto the brake o1' on the brake itself. y As another example of hydraulicbrake to which ifny invention is applicable I have iny accumulators,(shown at G,) operating either by the compres:

dicated in Fig. 2 a brake in Whiclithe pistonrod is made tubular and hasa fixed stem I projecting into it for regulating the running out ofthegun to battery. This figure shows the arrangementrequired to adapt myinvention to this ty'pe of hydraulic brake. These conditions are thesame as in the preceding case. In thisconstruetion the by-pass chair nelC is shortened to restrict it to that part of the brake-cylindertraversed during the last part of the travel of the piston.

Y ,Fig. 3` shdws. an example of the application of my system-to ahydraulic brake which isconstructed for effecting the ruiming out of thegun to battery by the'action of the liquid-pressure stored in theaccumulators. The brake shown in Fig. 3 is analogous to that shown in`Fig. 2. The piston-rod is hollow and forms a hydraulic cylinder A' foi`the piston P, formed on the fixed piston-rod, this rod being providedwith a central channel Q, which is in permanent communica` tion with thecompressed liquid in the accumulator. It is seen that in thisarrangement the means for utilizing the energy of the recoil are thesame as in the preceding.

I sometimesconstruct this brake in such manner as during the movement tobattery to furnish in addition compressed air, which vI employ forpurging the gun of offensive gases before the opening of the breech.'lille connections required for this purpose are shown in Fig-4. Duringthe recoilthe vacuum which tends to form in the cylinder'A isrelieved-'from the outer air, which opens the ICO check-valve R andfills this cylinder. During the return to battery the valve R closes,the air is compressed and lifts the valve S, which is provided in thecannon and placed just in front of the obturator or gas-check T. Thisvalve is restored ,to place by its Weight,aided, if necessar by theaction of a spring or else by the act `of introducing the projectile.The valve is shown'ona larger scale in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7, S, and 9 showin combination the complete apparatus providedwith all the features of my invention. The same letters are applied asin the preceding figures. The construction of brake-cylinder here. shownis vthe same as that shown in Fig. 3, with the additionof the means forpumping air into the barrel of `the can-non during the return to batteryshown in Fig. 4. g'

The construction lof accumulator shown in Fig. 6 operates by theutilization of cm- `pressed 'air for expelling the Water, a movablepiston g being provided as a partition between the Water-chamber and thecompressed-air chamber. zation apparatus II is hereshown as a hydrauliccylinder and pistonconuected to the gun-carriage in such manner as totilt the latter in aiming the gun.v Y

Instead of putting the arrangement for return to batteryin the centralpart of the brake andthe means for checking the recoil in the annularexterior portion, as shown in Fig, 3,

The hydraulic uti1i-` the accumulator'. I

the reverse arrangement may be adopted. 4lhis arrangement is shown inFig. 6. In this brake the annular space exterior to the hollow cylinderA" is in permanent communication with the accumulator and serves-toassure the return to battery. The recoil-brake is arranged in theinterior' of this cylinder by means of the central piston-rod P and thebypass groove C. During the recoil of the hollow piston A the liquidcompressed in the interior brake Hows-out through the oriiice E',through the bore of the piston-rod, and lifts the valve F, flowingthence by the duct E to Thelcw of liquid into the accumulator ceaseswhen the piston arrives at the opening E', and from this moment andnntil the end of the recoil the brake apparatus is an ordinary brakehaving a channel C of progressively-diminishing capacity. The reentryinto the brake of the liquid from the reservoir and the apparatus ofutilization 'is eiected by the conduit L, provided with a valve N,arranged to close during the recoil and to open during the return tobattery.

By these examples it is seen that the mode of organization of thehydraulic brakes for economizing the energy of the recoil after mysystem consists in each casein 'dividing the course of the brake intotwo parts by means of a lateral orifice in communication with theaccumulator, and provided with a checkvalve. During the Aiirst part ofthe course, which extends from the initial position of the piston untilthe instant when it reaches this oriiice,there is forced into theaccumulator the liquid displaced by the piston. From this instant thecharging of the accumulator ceases and the brake becomes an ordinaryhydraulic brake with a` by-pass of progressively-decreasing capacity,capable of e'liectively taking up the remaining energy of recoil.

W'hat l claim isl. A hydraulic -brake apparatus for ordnance, comprisinga brake-cylinder and piston, a lateral opening from said cylinder havingan outwardly-opening check-valve and located to be passed by the pistonbefore the end of the movement of recoil, and an accumulator connectedto saidopening to rcc`cive the liquid which passes said valve,

whereby during the recoil the 1 piston forces liquid ont of said lateralopening and stores its pressure insaid accumulator until the pistonpasses said opening, and during the remaining travel of the piston inAsaid cylinder it acts as a simple hydraulic brake.

2. A hydraulic-brake apparatus for ordnance, comprising a brake-cylinderand, piston, a lateral opening from said cylinder having anoutwardly-opening check-valve and located to be passed by the pistonbefore the` end of the movement of recoil, a by-pass channel forpermitting alimited vllow of liquid around the piston durinfr theremainderof the movement ol' recoil, an an accumulator conv neeted tosaid opening' to receive the liquid which passes said valve, wherebyduring the recoil the piston forces liquidl out of said lateral openingand Istores its pressure in said accumulator until the piston passessaid opening, and during the remaining travel of the piston in saidcylinder it acts as a simple hy dranlic brake regulated by the action ofsaid by-pass channel. c

3. A hydraulic-brake apparatus for ordnance, comprising a brake-cylinderand piston, a lateral opening from said cylinder having anoutwardly-opening check-valve and ton in said cylinder it acts as asimple hy.

draulie brake.

4. A hydraulic-brakeY apparatus for ordnance, comprising abrake-cylinder and piston, a lateral opening from said cylinder hav-'ing an outwardly-opening check-valve and located to be passed by thepiston before the end of the movement of recoil, an accumulatorconnected tosaid opening to receive the liquid which passes said valve,a reservoir for the surplus or spent liquid, and a conduit for drawingliquid from said reservoir t0 the brake-cylinder tol reiill the latterduring the movement of running out the gun to battery.

5. A hydraulic-brake apparatus for ordnance, comprising a brake-cylinderand piston, a lateral opening from said cylinder having anoutwardly-opening check-valve and located to be passed by the pistonbefore the end of the movement of recoil, an accumulator connected tosaid opening to receive the liquid which passes said valve, a reservoirfor the surplus .or spent liquid, and aconduit for drawing liquid fromsaid reservoir to the brake-cylinder t'o'rell the latter during themovement of running out the gun to battery, and a check-valve for saidconduit adapted to open for drawing liquid into the cylinder and toclose during the recoil.

6. A hydraulic-bral're apparatus for ordnance, comprising abrake-cylinder, a piston movable therein having a hollow rod, a. tu-

bular fixed stem in said hollow rod formed with a piston fitting thcsame, whereby are constituted' two cylinders with pistons the oneexterior to said hollow piston-rod and the other within'the same, alateral opening from one of said cylinders having an out- Wardly-openingcheck-valve and located to be passed by the piston thereof before theend of the movement of recoil, an accumulator connected to said openingto receive the liquid which passes said valve, and a conduit from saidaccumulator communicating with the other of said cylinders and adaptedto conduct liquid under pressure fromsaid aclOO` XIO

oumulator to said cylinder for restoring,- the parts and thereby runningout the gun to battery.

7. A hydraulic-brake apparatus for ordlnance, comprising abrake-cylinder and piston, anaecumulator connected therewith, asecondary cylinder, an air-admission checkvalvel to the latter, and.avalved air-outlet conduit therefrom leading to the bore of the gun,combined and adapted to compress air in said secondary cylinder duringthe movement of the gun to battery, and to admit said compressed air tothe breech portion of the gun for expelling th'e gases of combustion.

8. -A Ihydraulic-brake apparatus for ordnance, comprising; abrake-cylinder, a piston movable therein, a hollow piston-rod thereforits interior forming a secondary cylinder, a

'.xed piston in said rod having a stationary stem, said hollowpiston-rod providedwith an air-inlet check-valve adapted to admit airdur ing the recoil, and4 With a valved .conduit Witnesses.

lJOSEPH ALBERT DEPORT Witnesses: p f ,l

CLYDE SHRoPsHIRn,- y JULES ARMENGAUD,` Jeune.

